Author name: adm

As the countdown to the NNL Pre-season seminar begins, renowned retired FIFA badged referee, Chukwudi Chukwujekwu (C.C.) has joined the growing list of experienced resource persons that will handle the seminar.

The most important League in the country will hold a pre-season seminar for coaches and media officers at the Remo Stars Stadium, Ikenne, Ogun State from October 28th- 30th, 2024 in other to prepare them adequately for the new season.

Announcing the inclusion of Chukwujekwu who is the Head Technical instructors, referees and assistant referees of Nigeria Football Federation, Chairman of NNL, Mr. George Aluo said it was done in order to give the best to the participants.

“We decided to include renowned referee, Chukwudi Chukwujekwu as one of the resource persons because he is highly experienced and the participants will benefit immensely from his wide football knowledge.

“You’re aware that we’re organising this seminar to ensure that coaches and media officers are tutored on what is expected of them when the 2024/2025 season kicks off and to get it right like we did last year, we need to get very experienced resource persons to lecture the participants and that’s why we’re going for the best,” he stressed.

In his reaction, Chukwujekwu noted that he’s humbled to be considered worthy to be one of the resource persons, promising that he’ll handle the job perfectly.
Other renowned coaches and resource persons that will be handling the seminar are former Super Eagles Assistant coach Fatai Amoo, Alphonsus Dike, Thiago Conde, media Practitioners Tony  Ubani, John Joshua Akanji and Oluchi Tobex Tobechukwu among others.

With less than one week to the NNL pre-season seminar aimed at equipping second tier team coaches and media officers with good knowledge of how to handle issues related to the league, one of the resource persons, John Joshua Akanji has declared that the seminar will adequately equip the participants ahead of the beginning of the 2024/2025 season.

Akanji, a veteran journalist and former media aide to then Sports Minister, Sunday Dare will be among senior journalists that will tutor media officers at the seminar expected to kick off on Monday, October, 28 at Remo Stars Sports Complex, Ikenne, Ogun State.
According to him, the successes recorded in the league last season could be attributed to the seminar held at the same venue noting that all the national leagues need such seminars inorder to upscale the knowledge of the coaches and team media officers on what are expected of them as the championship progresses.

” I want to commend the NNL board under the Chairmanship of Mr. George Aluo for their initiative in introducing the seminar.
“The maiden edition was a very huge success which contributed to the seamless league they had last season and I believe that this year’s edition will even be more successful because of the calibre of resource persons that will handle the seminar.

He was particularly happy that the league board went beyond limiting the seminar to the coaches since he believes media officers are critical stakeholders because the reports they send out can have either positive or negative effect on the league.

General Manager of NNL side, Inter Lagos, Gabriel Adigwe has commended the board of the second tier League for it’s planned pre- season seminar for coaches and media officers before the commencement of the League.

Following the successes recorded in last season’s pre- season seminar, the board of NNL has decided to widen the seminar with the inclusion of club media officers.The pre -season Seminar will take place at the Remo Stars Stadium,  Ikenne from October 28th- 31st, 2024 with renowned coaches and resource persons like former Super Eagles Assistant coach Fatai Amoo, Alphonsus Dike, Thiago Conde,   media Practitioners Tony  Ubani, John Joshua Akanji and Oluchi Tobex Tobechukwu among others expected to tutor  coaches and media officers to upscale their knowledge in order to improve the standard of the League.

Speaking on the development, Adigwe believes that it will highly enrich the participants who are key stakeholders of the league even as he commended the board of the most important league in the country for the noble initiative.

” I’m really excited with the forthcoming seminar which I believe will go a long way in enriching the league.” You’re quite aware that prior to the beginning of last season, a similar seminar was organised and it contributed greatly to the successes recorded in the league and I have no doubt in my mind that the same will happen this season.”

The inclusion of media officers is equally commendable as they’ll learn new things on how to report accurately and also know the type of information they give out to their colleagues in order not to put the league in bad light”, he concluded.

In a bid to consolidate on the gains of last season which saw a remarkable improvement in the quality of the Nigerian National League, plans have been concluded for a pre season Seminar for coaches and media officers.

The pre season seminar is to hold immediately after the league’s AGM billed for Bauchi.

According to the Chairman of the Nigeria National League Board Mr George Aluo “We are excited to have a pre season Seminar for our coaches and club media officers to prepare them for another season.

The event would come up immediately after the league’s AGM in Bauchi. The NNL is fully committed to building on the gains of last season which resulted in good conduct of our coaches, fair officiating and high standard of play. We cannot settle for anything less going forward.”He expressed gratitude to the management of Valuejet Airlines for supporting the NNL to consolidate on the gains of making the League better.”

“We have set a standard which we will keep improving upon. The commendation we got last season is due to the cooperation of all stakeholders. The League can only get better when everyone contribute their own quota to the game. We are not there yet, but we have instilled some level of trust, sanity and integrity in our league. This is the beginning of better days ahead. We thank Valuejet Airlines for their faith and support.”The pre season Seminar will take place at the world class Remo Stars Stadium mid October.

Notable and reputable coaches, world acclaimed journalists and resource persons are expected to tutor coaches and media officers to upgrade their knowledge of the game.Aluo said the NNL decided to incorporate media officers into the program because of their strategic role in the growth of the league.

It has been ovations for the board of the Nigeria National League (NNL) following the giant strides that led to the successes recorded during the 2023/2024 season.

Remo Stars FC of Ikenne financier, Hon Kunle Soname, joined the numerous stakeholders that have poured encomium on the board, when he received the NNL board chairman, George Aluo in his office at the weekend.

Speaking when Aluo paid him a courtesy visit at Remo Stars Stadium Soname expressed his joy and satisfaction over the smooth and hitch free season which was completed at the Super 8 tournament at the Nnamdi Azikiwe stadium in Enugu.

He said, ”I want to most sincerely congratulate the board of the NNL for organizing a hitch free season with improved standard of play, fair officiating and fewer cases of violence. This shows that when things are properly done, we can get the best out of our football. Who would have imagined that a young team like Beyond Limit could win the league?

“This shows that with the right people, right attitude, things can be done better. We are not there yet, but we can get it right when there is honesty of purpose, fairness, justice and integrity.”

In his response, Aluo affirmed ”The NNL is totally committed to building a strong standard for our league so that it can be equated to quality leagues in other countries. We have shown that things can be done differently if we have the right Synergy, good leadership and support from all stakeholders.”Aluo and his board, who took over the NNL last year have introduced some reforms which is already yielding good results that have transformed the second tier League in the country.”

Organizing the league is not rocket science. If other countries are getting it right, we can also get it right. Gradually, people are seeing that things can be done in a transparent and honest way. We are not saints, but we have restored the integrity of the NNL because the youngest team, Beyond Limit won the league. We withstood a lot of pressure. We stood our ground by insisting that things should be done right. This may not be popular initially, but as we progress people will be forced to embrace change.” It will be recalled that the NNL Super 8 held in Enugu was won by Beyond Limit Academy of Ikenne.

The ancient City of Bauchi will host the Annual General Meeting of the Nigeria National League on Saturday September 28, 2024.

According to a statement from the league’s Chief Operating Officer, Dr Ayo Abdulrahman, all is set for the Annual General Meeting of the Most Important League in Nigeria .

Bauchi State Governor , Alhaji Bala Mohammed is expected to declare the meeting open.

Abdulrahman confirmed that all the 36 clubs officials and members of the NNL board will be in attendance.The Annual General Meeting will review last season’s success, challenges and how to leverage on the credibility created by the smooth running of the league.

The meeting will also chart the way for the new season and also decide on a date for the Commencement of the 2024/2025 NNL season.

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The Board of the country’s second tier League (NNL) said that their Annual General Meeting will hold at a later date this month.

This was part of the decision it took in a virtual board meeting held on Wednesday, September, 4, 2024.
According to a Communique issued after the meeting, the board resolved
that the date and venue of the Annual General Meeting will be announced soon just as it commended the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) under the leadership of Alhaji Ibrahim Musa Gusau for providing a level playing ground for the league to thrive

The NNL board also expressed implicit confidence in the genuine efforts of the NFF board to ensure that the Super Eagles qualifies for the 2025 African Cup of Nations as well as 2026 World Cup.

The well attended virtual meeting finally resolved that there will be equal number of teams in the conferences for the 2024/2025 league season.

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The leadership of the nation’s second tier league, the NNL, has urged Abuja based Global TV to support its vision of putting the league on television when the new season gets underway.
The request was made Thursday when the Chairman of the league body, George Aluo led a team of NNL management on a courtesy call to the Founder cum CEO of Global TV Alhaji (Dr) Ibrahim Biu.
The NNL team which was warmly welcomed by their hosts thanked Global TV for the support it rendered the league last season.
Aluo noted that the success recorded last season was to a very large extent courtesy of the support of Global TV who took some of the NNL games live even when no formal deal has been sealed by both parties.
“We are here to say thank you to Global TV for the support we got last season and to seek for fresh support. We want to deepen our relationship with Global TV and work together for the good of Nigerian football,” Aluo said.
The NNL boss was full of praise for Alhaji Biu who he noted is a patriot that wants the best for the country. Aluo further congratulated Global TV for the giant strides it has made in barely one year after it commenced operations and hitting the airwaves.
“Today Global TV is both on StarTimes and DSTV…I think this is amazing for a television outfit that is barely one year. I understand Global TV can be watched in over 50 countries of the world. Biu and his team deserve a pat on the back,” Aluo stated.
Biu while welcoming his guests said Global TV is prepared to partner with NNL to take Nigerian football to the next level.
He commended NFF president Alhaji Ibrahim Gusau for picking competent men and women to run the nation’s domestic leagues.
“Our leagues are getting better and Global TV is ready to invest in it to make it better,” Biu stated.
Also present during the courtsey visit for Global TV were, The General Manager, Mrs Aisha Larai Musa, Mohammed Usman (Director), Simon Uyo-Agbomofuegbe, Manager, News and Current Affair, Jummai Manson Programmes Manager, Ibrahim Suleiman, Broadcast Manager.
On the side of NNL were the Chief Operating Officer, Dr Ayo Abdulrahaman, Mr.Aberdeen Fasansi, Accountant, Chinedu Oha, Head Marketing and Amar Ignis, Head Media.

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Ahead of the 2024/2025 football league season, the board of the Nigeria National League (NNL) has confirmed the relegation of 12 clubs from the four groups that played in last season’s league to the third tier National League One (NLO).

This is as the board has similarly confirmed the promotion of four clubs from the four groups to the Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL).

Recall that the NNL had recently concluded the season with it’s super eight championships game at the Nnamdi Azikiwe stadium in Enugu, where the four clubs, Nasarawa United, Elkanemi Warriors, Beyond Limits and Ikorodu City FC gained promotion to the elite league.

The NNL in a letter to the NFF confirmed the relegation of Stormers FC, Abeokuta, Ekiti United FC of Ado Ekiti and 1472 FC of Lagos from conference A.
The letter which was dated July 13, 2024 also confirmed that FC One Rocket of Uyo, Giant Brillars FC of Enugu and Trade Safe FC of Lagos were relegated from conference B, while NAF FC of Abuja, ABS FC of Ilorin and EFCC FC of Abuja dropped to the NLO from conference C.
Similarly, Mailantarki Care FC of Abuja, Jigawa Golden Stars of Dutse and City FC of Abuja completed the rear for dropped clubs from Conference D.
It was similarly gathered that the NNL has received list of promoted clubs from the NLO, as well as those demoted from the NPFL, that would soon participate in it’s coming Annual General Meeting (AGM) where the twelve clubs, four that suffered relegation from the NPFL and eight that gained promotion from the NLO will be formally received to participate in the 2024/2025 NNL season.
Confirming the promotion and relegation of the clubs, chairman of the NNL, George Aluo, said the board has formally notified the NFF, informing the parent body of the final outcome of the 2023/2024 season.
The veteran journalist added that the board is currently preparing for its Annual General Meeting (AGM), where it will formally receive all the clubs that would participate in the new season.
“To the glory of God the 2023/2024 NNL season ended with giant strides recorded by the board. We have formally notified the NFF of the promotion and relegation of the various clubs that gallantly participated in the league last season.
“Our next program is the Annual General Meeting of the board and clubs, where we will receive the four clubs that dropped from the NPFL and the eight that got promotion from the NLO.
“We are set and have promised Nigerians that we will improve on our last season’s performance. We have raised the standards at NNL and the new season will no doubt be competitive as our performance has propelled many of the clubs that participated in last season to become giant killers in Nigerian football,” Aluo stated.

The leadership of Nigeria National League has frowned at the recent news on the social media that it is projecting to kickoff the 2024/2025 season in October/November.

According to the Chief Executive Officer of the league body Emmanuel Attah, the Nigeria National League Board has not told anybody that they are starting the League in October.

“We cannot just stay in the office to decide the kick off date of the League. We need to have the Annual General Meeting of the body where an appraisal of the last season will be done, and approval for the new season shall be effected. We don’t know where the kick off date of October emanated from. To the best of my knowledge we have not fixed any date for the kick off of the NNL, when such happens, we would let everyone know” the former Super Eagles Coordinator said.

Attah who was a former Chairman of FCT Football Association also denied any knowledge of unveiling a sponsor for the league as speculated in the news.“While it is true that we have a whole lot of corporate bodies that have shown interest in the league against the backdrop of the highly successful season that has just finished, we have not gotten to the level of unveiling any yet. When we tidy up any deal we will let Nigerians know,” he said.

It would be noted that the quartet of El Kanemi Warriors, Nasarawa United, Beyond Limits and Ikorodu City got promoted from NNL to the Premier League after the Enugu Super 8.

El Kanemi went ahead after the Enugu outing to emerge champions of the country after beating Abia Warriors in the President Federation Cup final in Lagos.